You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Would recommend!
Oh, I loved Ginny Moon. The story is told from her perspective, which is pretty frustrating at times. You can't stop her from making these logical conclusions based on the limited information at hand. This book was practically a page-turner for me because I was so NERVOUS about Ginny the entire time. I read more than half of it in one sitting because I kept wanting to find out what would happen. I think the ending is satisfying but not too tidy, and that was just right for me. I am really curious to hear from people in the autism community about how this book resonates with them. It's definitely worth the read.
Oh, I loved Ginny Moon. The story is told from her perspective, which is pretty frustrating at times. You can't stop her from making these logical conclusions based on the limited information at hand. This book was practically a page-turner for me because I was so NERVOUS about Ginny the entire time. I read more than half of it in one sitting because I kept wanting to find out what would happen. I think the ending is satisfying but not too tidy, and that was just right for me. I am really curious to hear from people in the autism community about how this book resonates with them. It's definitely worth the read.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wasn’t as enamored with the book as I had hoped I would. Based on the rave reviews on Goodreads, I realized I was among the minority. Prior to purchasing it, I had read the reviews and had high expectations but alas, it fell short. I did not hate the book; in fact, I thought the background for Ginny was so well written and I could almost believe that the story could be real.
The author is an adoptive parent of a teenager with autism, so I think that really helps in shaping the character. I do not have any expertise or knowledge on autism so I cannot claim to know, but as far as I was concerned, the book did read as if it was written by someone who has knowledge on what it’s like interacting and adopting someone who falls under the spectrum.
What put me off was the drama that surrounded Ginny’s life. Perhaps I was a little concerned with the parental figures around Ginny, they seemed to make one bad decision after another and it was not until the end that we could glimpse a ray of hope for her.
I felt like because the story was written from the perspective from an autistic person, we got to experience how to think like one, who was trying her best to make sense of the allistic world around her. It’s true that each autistic person has a unique POV, and their experiences certainly vary, just like the rest of us, but this book gives us a chance to learn about one of them. I realize how impatient I was when Ginny made certain decisions that did not make sense to me, and had to take a step back to remind myself that not everyone processed things the same way, and I was being unfair for assuming that mine was the best.
If you’d love to learn more about autism, I think this book would be a great addition to your readings. Mad respect to parents and adoptive parents of children with autism, who go out of their way to see things in a special, different way to help their kids make sense of the world.
The author is an adoptive parent of a teenager with autism, so I think that really helps in shaping the character. I do not have any expertise or knowledge on autism so I cannot claim to know, but as far as I was concerned, the book did read as if it was written by someone who has knowledge on what it’s like interacting and adopting someone who falls under the spectrum.
What put me off was the drama that surrounded Ginny’s life. Perhaps I was a little concerned with the parental figures around Ginny, they seemed to make one bad decision after another and it was not until the end that we could glimpse a ray of hope for her.
I felt like because the story was written from the perspective from an autistic person, we got to experience how to think like one, who was trying her best to make sense of the allistic world around her. It’s true that each autistic person has a unique POV, and their experiences certainly vary, just like the rest of us, but this book gives us a chance to learn about one of them. I realize how impatient I was when Ginny made certain decisions that did not make sense to me, and had to take a step back to remind myself that not everyone processed things the same way, and I was being unfair for assuming that mine was the best.
If you’d love to learn more about autism, I think this book would be a great addition to your readings. Mad respect to parents and adoptive parents of children with autism, who go out of their way to see things in a special, different way to help their kids make sense of the world.
I want to preface my review by saying that I am perhaps one of the hardest-to-please readers of contemporary fiction out there. I rarely find a book of contemporary fiction that I enjoy enough to actually recommend to friends.
With that caveat out of the way, I'm happy to say that this book is pretty fantastic, and I will happily recommend it to others.
This book hooked me from the very start, and I finished it in almost record time. Ginny Moon's voice feels authentic and raw, and while I feared that her single-minded obsession with her Baby Doll might become tedious, as the layers of the onion peel away, you begin to understand more and more why this particular subject in many ways defines and dominates who Ginny is. Her story is affecting without ever being cloying or maudlin; because Ginny's voice is so spare, we are able to feel the heartbreak of neglect and the hardships of the foster care system without ever feeling as if we are being pandered to or emotionally manipulated by the author. You will root for Ginny and be frustrated by her at the same time -- much as the adults in her life are. You may even be a touch sad, as I was, when the novel is over -- not because the conclusion isn't satisfying (because it is), but because you enjoyed the time you spent with Ginny so much.
The only warning I will give is that sensitive cat lovers (of which I am one myself) may find some upsetting content here. It is not dwelt on long, but I did put the book aside for a moment and reminded myself that it is fiction, and that no cats were harmed in the making of this novel.
Recommended -- a very engaging look at an important subject.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
With that caveat out of the way, I'm happy to say that this book is pretty fantastic, and I will happily recommend it to others.
This book hooked me from the very start, and I finished it in almost record time. Ginny Moon's voice feels authentic and raw, and while I feared that her single-minded obsession with her Baby Doll might become tedious, as the layers of the onion peel away, you begin to understand more and more why this particular subject in many ways defines and dominates who Ginny is. Her story is affecting without ever being cloying or maudlin; because Ginny's voice is so spare, we are able to feel the heartbreak of neglect and the hardships of the foster care system without ever feeling as if we are being pandered to or emotionally manipulated by the author. You will root for Ginny and be frustrated by her at the same time -- much as the adults in her life are. You may even be a touch sad, as I was, when the novel is over -- not because the conclusion isn't satisfying (because it is), but because you enjoyed the time you spent with Ginny so much.
The only warning I will give is that sensitive cat lovers (of which I am one myself) may find some upsetting content here. It is not dwelt on long, but I did put the book aside for a moment and reminded myself that it is fiction, and that no cats were harmed in the making of this novel.
Recommended -- a very engaging look at an important subject.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
This was a really special book. I feel like it really takes a special author to get into the head of someone who is not necessarily like them and show how it works without resorting to demeaning stereotypes. Benjamin Ludwig does a really phenomenal job. Every single character in this book is going through a tough time, and none of them are flattened out. There is no character who you are meant to completely like or hate; rather, they are all complicated individuals who are trying to figure it out. I loved being inside Ginny's brain as she figured out how to advocate for herself and as those around her figured out how to unlock the truths she had been trying to tell them.
Ginny Moon is an autistic 13 year old girl living with her forever parents (i.e. foster parents). It has been 5 years since she was removed from her birth mother's custody. Ginny knows that she's not allowed to contact her birth mother but, she's concerned about that baby doll she left at her old home.
Ginny tries many ways to find out what happened to her baby doll that threaten her barely formed world. Ginny Moon is an interesting character, both scarily unaware and funny at the same time.
Ginny tries many ways to find out what happened to her baby doll that threaten her barely formed world. Ginny Moon is an interesting character, both scarily unaware and funny at the same time.
4/5. This is an amazing book, and I'm glad someone is telling this very important story. On the other hand, the book made me feel so deeply sad, that I cannot quite figure out yet whether I can say that I liked this book. I definitely recommend it though.
Strong and authentic narrative voice. The story is told from the perspective of an autistic 14 year old girl navigating adoption and dealing with her abusive past. My only gripe is that the plot didn’t move along fast enough. The audiobook was very well done.
I was hooked from the first sentence and lost sleep over this one! Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I don't know if I even have words for how I felt about this book. My heart broke over and over again for this beautiful, imaginative and scared little girl named Ginny Moon. This book was unique and completely extraordinary and Ginny's voice is one that everyone should hear.